all3sports Will Host 'Fear No Distance' Book Release Party

Atlanta-based athlete Danielle Grabol proves to everyone that you can change your life with a little determination and a lot of hard work.

Fear No Distance is an inspiring true story of one woman’s transformation from a 220-pound couch potato to record-setting athlete.

Join us on April 1 from 5:00-7:00 pm for the official book release party. All proceeds of the book will go to support the Kyle Pease Foundation and we will have raffle items available to further support the foundation. Dani and special guest Kyle Pease will give a presentation on what it means to overcome obstacles which will be broadcast on Facebook live for those of you who cannot attend.

And here is a special sneak peak from Dani's book, an excerpt from her Epic 5 Challenge (completing 5 Ironman Distance Races in 5 Days).

I was 449.8 miles into Epic 5 when I decided I wanted to quit. Having slept only 30 minutes the night before in Molokai I started Day 4 in Maui depleted. The lack of sleep was just one of the many obstacles I had faced so far.

449.8 miles behind me. Only 253.2 miles left. The thought of traveling two miles seemed unbearable, 253.2 was unfathomable.

Maui’s bike course was hard. I was climbing and battling the horrible headwinds, only 28 miles in to a 112-mile ride, when I looked down at my bike computer. 12.8 avg mph. Twelve miles per hour. At this rate you will be out here forever. It was completely demoralizing. I pulled over. My crew van wasn’t far behind and they immediately stopped. Jason ran over carrying spare wheels. He started to remove my deep dish carbon rims and replaced them with regular wheels, which were heavier and would be easier to use in the wind. I immediately started bawling.

“I can’t do this.” I said between sobs.

“Yes you can.” Jason hugged me. “You’re the strongest person I know.”

“I’m not strong enough!” I wailed.

“Here. Drink this 5-hour energy and we will reevaluate at mile 50. Todd said that the wind will die down really soon. We are only on this stretch for five miles.”

Jason unscrewed the top off a 5-hour energy and I guzzled it down. I got back on my bike and started pedaling. At mile 50 I am quitting. I told myself.  You’re tired. You can go take a nap, then fly to Kona and do the last day.

For some reason, my mind drifted to Pat from the pool and the day she told me she believed I could finish Epic 5. What would I tell Pat about why I quit? I started repeating my excuse in my head. “I was just tired.” I visualized calling my dad. “Hey dad its me. Yeah, I quit. I was tired.” Even in my foggy mind, it sounded like what my dad would call a “piss-poor excuse”.

I did a quick systems check. Legs? Heavy but okay. Feet? Swollen but still working. Upper body? Felt amazing. Girly parts? Tolerating the saddle. Once I realized my body was fine I knew it was my mental game that was weak. My mental game.  As long as no bones were broken or muscles torn, my mental game is the biggest part of what got me here, and it was the only thing that could get me to the end of day five.

I needed to suck it up and get myself into a better place.

I rode another five miles. We made a left turn onto Hwy 30. The headwind was becoming a crosswind and the course was flattening out. For the next ten miles I pondered my physical state before determining I was fine. Nothing was wrong with me. I was just tired.

Tired. Really what did I expect? This was Day 4 of a 5-day event. I had three 140.6-mile races behind me. Of course I was tired. But you know what? Everyone else was tired too.The other two competitors were tired. My crew was tired. The race staff and volunteers were tired. I wasn’t special and my tiredness wasn’t unique to me.

You made it through 3 days and multiple mechanicals and now you want to stop because you are TIRED?!  You’re ahead of the other two guys and NOW is when you want to quit? 

I called myself out and it worked. I started yelling at the crew van. Eventually, Jason rolled down the window.

“Don't you EVER let me talk about quitting something AGAIN!!!” I screamed at him. He smiled back at me.

Not only was I wide awake, I was fired up.

I started to replay my training in my head. Countless weeks of sacrifice. Getting up earlier than I wanted to. Staying late at swim practice. 4:40 am wake up calls. Getting back on the bike when my legs were begging me to stay in bed.

Most of you won’t be successful because when you get tired, you quit. Most of you don’t want success as much as you want to sleep.

The motivational video that I had watched hundreds, maybe thousands of times started playing in my head.

You got a dream, you gotta protect it. If you want something, go get it. Period.

You have to believe that something different can happen.

I started yelling “ Dani Grabol will be the first woman to complete Epic 5.” Over and over again. Thinking I was talking to them the crew van pulled up beside me.

“Everything okay?” Jason asked.

“DANI GRABOL WILL BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO COMPLETE EPIC 5!!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. Jason smiled. “Yes you will babe.”

To be able at any moment to sacrifice what you are for what you will become.

I continued to scream. An hour later I was still repeating it, over and over again. Two hours turned into three. The wind had died down. It rained on us, then the sun would shine bright. The course was magnificent with gorgeous ocean views. I made it to the turnaround point at mile 60 with a huge smile on my face. There were 218.8 miles that separated me from becoming the first woman to finish Epic 5. I was going to make it.

Adapted from Fear No Distance: A journey to life without limits by Danielle Grabol

For more information visit www.danigrabol.com